Mechanism for centrifugal casting



IP OO? w m n M 7 A WM 2 J, MM m /M. m w i w 9 m i, w M. a m w OCHRk-an UUWI G. A. RUBISSOW MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL CASTINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1945 -March 29, 1949.

Filed March 19, 1945 e. A. RUBISSOW 2,465,819

MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL CASTINGS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 29, 1949 StJ-iKUH KUUlVl UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to casting of materials which may benefit from being subjected to centrifugal action while in the mold. Metals are among the most important of such materials. It has for an object toproduce the beneficial effects obtained by subjecting the molten material in the mold to centrifugal force, even though the mold may be of such large size that it is impracticable to incorporate it in a rotary centrifugal machine.

In accordance with the present invention the mold is carried by or forms part of a vehicle which is propelled along a curved path at such a rate of speed as to produce the desired centrifugal action on the molten material, and if desired a ladle or crucible containing the molten material and carried by or forming part of the vehicle may be propelled with the mold and at a desired part of the path and at a desired time and speed of traverse of the vehicle be caused to discharge molten material into the mold.

For a complete understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the accompanyng drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of one form of apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section of a mold and ladle carrier.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view to a larger scale on line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view similar to a portion of Figure 1, but showing a modification.

Figure 6 is a top plan view showing another modified form of apparatus.

Figure '7 is a detail sectional view to a larger scale on line 'l-I of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view to a smaller scale similar to Figure 6. but showing a different form of mold propulsion.

Figures 9, 10 and 11 are detail sectional views of portions of modified forms of the apparatus, the mold carrier being shown in elevation.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic top view of another form of apparatus.

Figure 13 is a deail sectional view to a larger scale on line l3-l3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a view partly in section and partly in sid levation showing a further modification.

Figure 15 is a top plan view showing still another modification.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary side elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 15.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figures 1 to 4. there is shown somewhat conventionally in Figure 3, a motor vehicle which may comprise an ordinary truck chassis upon which is mounted in place of the usual body, a casing I comprising a mold portion 2 surmounted by v. ladle portion 3. The mold portion 2 may have any desired mold which it is desired to pour and molten material in the ladle portion 3 may flow into the mold cavity past a valve 4 in a gate 5. The valve 4 may be manipulated by the vehicle driver, and for this purpose, it is shown as being connected to a lifting rod 6 pivoted to a bell crank lever l iulcrumed at a fixed point 8 and connected through a link 9 with a bell crank lever l0, fulcrumed at H to the upper portion of the vehicle above the drivers seat. A pull cord 12 secured to th forward arm of the bell crank lever '10 may be pulled by the driver when it is desired to lift the valve 4 and permit the molten material from the ladle portion 3 to pass into the mold. This vehicle comprising the mold and the ladle is intended to be driven on a closed track of such a configuration that the desired centrifugal force is imparted to the molten material while it is in the mold and also whil it is being introduced into the mold from the ladle. The vehicle may have the usual rubber tired wheels M.

The track for the vehicle is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and as there shown comprises a bowlshaped structure at [5 which is shown as dug in the ground, although it should be evident that it might be made on an elevated structure built above the ground, if desired. However, a structure dug into the ground is highly advantageous, since it may take the heavy thrust developed in the casting operation without possibility of structural defects such as might be present, should the structure be built above ground and in elevated position. As shown in Figure 1, an entrance path IE is provided which will direct the vehicle to the upper portion of the inclined bowlshaped path within which the vehicle is to be driven during the casting operation. The bowlshape of the structure provides for automatic banking of the vehicle as it is driven therearound, and it may be driven around for as many times as is desired and at the desired rate of speed in order to produce the centrifugal effect on the molten material for the length of time desired. A single circuit of the structure is shown by the arrows of Figure 1, but it should be evident that the track may be traversed as many times as desired before the vehicle is driven off on the exit path ll. With this arrangement a driver rides around with the mold and its contents during the casting operation and during the pouring of the mofien material from the ladle 3 into the mold. Of course, if desired, the vehicle could be mounted on supporting rails and could be guided definitely in a fixed path.

The vehicle is driven around the circuit within the bowl structure at a predetermined desirable speed, for example 50 miles an hour, and when desired speed in the arcuate path has been reached, the operator opens the valve 4 and per mits the molten material to flow into the mold, this action being enhanced by the centrifugal force developed by the rapid motion of the vehicle in its curved orbital path. This arrangement permits of the casting of considerable masses as the mold may be quite large and the amount of molten material carried b the ladle may be correspondingly great.

If desired, variations from true circular path may be provided at desired points to produce pulsations or variations in the centrifugal force at various times during the casting operation. For example, as shown in Figure 4. the interior of the bowl-shaped track may be provided with a hump as over which the vehicle may pass, thus disturbing the steady centrifugal force which would be produced should the vehicle be driven at a constant rate of speed over a circular path. Also as shown in Figure 5, the shape of the bowl may be other than circular, as for example, elliptical. This would vary the centrifugal force exerted on the material periodically with a constant speed of the vehicle around its path. Other variations in path could be provided to afford any desired variations in centrifugal force during the casting operation and variation of curvature in a regular pattern would, of course, produce pulsating centrifugal effects on the molten material.

Instead of employing a motor driven vehicle controlled by a driver, the vehicle may be controlled from outside as shown, for example, in Figures 12 and 13. As shown in these figures, the path of motion of the vehicle is circular and it is supported from beneath by suitable wheels while the centrifugal forces may be exerted against an upright side wall 26 of the supporting path mechanism through other Wheels 2! arranged on vertical axes which may engage the upright wall 26, or track members 28 secured thereto. If desired, the track members may be in the form of rails 29 engaged by flanged wheels 30, such an arrangement being particularly suitable where it is desirable to guide the side wheels 30. The vehicle 34, as shown in these figures, is driven by a suitable motor, for example, an electric motor shown at 3 I, having suitable geared connection 32 to an axle 35 to which certain of the wheels 25 are fixed, as shown in Figure 13. The motor 3| may be controlled from a central station 36 at substantially the center of the trackway and as shown this station may have a stationary platform 31 provided at one point with a controlling panel board 38 having the electrical control mechanisms for the motor 3| and other parts, as may be desired. The control station may be carried by a stationary pivot member 40 on which may be journaled, as on the ball bearings 39, the inner end of an arm 4|, the outer end of which is secured to the vehicle 34.

If desired, also, the controllin station 36 may have provision for controlling other mechanisms. For example, the mold may be arranged in the outer portion of the vehicle that is remote from the station 36, and the ladle for containing the molten material may be at the inner portion of the vehicle, as shown, for example, in Figure 7, a valve at 42 being interposed between the two. This valve may be actuated at any suitable time as by an actuating solenoid 43 controlled through a cable 44 leading to suitable brushes on slip rings 45 carried by the pivot 40. These slip rings may be led through suitable control mechanism on the board 38 and from thence to any suitable source of electric power. Also, if desired, the pivot 40 may be provided with one or more pipes, two such pipes being shown concentric with each other at 46 and 41. From these ma lead through suitable manifolds 48 journaled on the pivot 40, pipes 49 leading to any suitable portion of the mold or ladle. For example, a refrigerant may be circulated through these pipes and through the mold adjacent to the mold cavity for cooling the mold rapidly, particularly after the molten material has solidified, thus to produce desirable heat treating effects on the material of the casting, or, if desired, such a pipe may be employed to conduct an inert gas such as nitrogen into the mold cavity or into contact with the surface of the molten material before, during, or after pouring, to prevent oxidation, or for other desirable purpose. All of these mechanisms may be controlled by suitable controlling means at the central station as may be desired.

Also it may be found desirable to vary the direction of the centrifugal force as applied to the mold or to the molten material in the mold and during its solidification. Means may therefore be provided for rotating the mold and related parts and if this rotation is made sumciently rapid, desirable centrifugal effects ma be produced on the material. For example, as shown in Figure 14, the mold and its ladle, shown conventionally at 50, may be mounted on a carriage separate from the main vehicle 5| and rotated about a central axis as on the bearing 52, as by a motor of any suitable description 55 having its drive shaft connected through suitable gearing a a worm 55 and a worm wheel 51 to the member 50. The control of this motor may also be effected from the control station as through slip rings and brushes similar to the control for the motor 3| and the solenoid 43 shown in Figure 13. This secondary rotation may be about an axis at any angle or in any plane desired relative to the main rotation.

If desired, the vehicle may be otherwise mounted and its path controlled, for example, as shown in Figure 6. Thus, the vehicle 60 comprising the mold and related parts may be introduced into a road or trackway as through a doorway normally closed by a hinged and locked door 6|, the inner face of which ma form a part of the wall structure. As shown in this figure, the path of motion of the vehicle 60 may be varied from true circular, such a variation being shown at 62. Such a vehicle may be self-propelled with a driver riding thereon, or it may be controlled from outside by any suitable means, such, for example, as a central station as shown in Figure 13, or by any other known type of remote control, radio or otherwise. Remote controls generally, are old and well known and need not be further specified herein. If desired, the way may have a fiat base 63 as shown in Figures 9 and 10, or it may be inclined as shown at 64 (Figure 11) and the outer walls may be of various shapes either perpendicular to or out of perpendicular with the base, the perpendicular being shown in Figure 11 at 65 and an inclined arrangement being shown at 86 in Figure 9. An arcuate outer wall member is shown at 61 in Figure 10.

In Eigure.8, a further arrangement for driving the vehicle is shown wherein this is accomplished by power rotation of an arm pivoted at a substantially central point H to the way, the arm 10 being rotated as by a motor I2 as through worm gearing at 13. The outer end of the arm freely engages a suitable member 14 of the mold containing vehicle which is driven around the closed path by engagement with the arm 10 which is rotated, the path of motion of the vehicle being controlled entirely by the configuration of its supporting structure.

Various other controls of the mold, ladle, or their contents, may be effected during the motion of the vehicle. For example, as shown in Figure 7, the vehicle is driven by driving the side wheels 21 in addition to the drive of the supporting wheels by means of a motor 150, both motors 150 and 3i receiving current through slip rings 76 on the outer wall of the track structure, these rings being energized from any suitable source and controlled by a switch H. The control of the flow of molten material from the ladle into the mold may be accomplished as through the valve 40, as hereinbefore described, and as shown in Figure 7, this may be actuated by the solenoid 18, also controlled from outside through the slip rings 19 and the contact arms 80 carried by the vehicle. It is also possible to heat the molten material in the ladle so that when the casing is to be effected it is at the desired high temperature to have the desired fluidity. For example, any suitable type of electric or other heater may be employed as is well known in the electric furnace art, such a heater being shown conventionally at 8! and controlled through energy derived from a cable 82 connected from an outside source through suitable brushes and slip rings as at 93. As shown in Figure 7, also, the molten material is supplied to the mold through a back gating arrangement at 84, which directs the flow into the mold against the action of centrifugal force.

In Figures 15 and 16, a further arrangement is shown in which gravity is employed to propel the vehicle containing the mold and related parts through at least the major portion of its circuit. For example, a trackway may be built up as shown in these figures having various undulations as at 85, 86 and associated with these undulations may be curvatures having horizontal, and, if desired, vertical components as shown in Figure 15 at B1 and 88. These trackways may be similar to the well known pleasure railways, it being possible to provide for an infinite variety of curvature having both horizontal and vertical components, or either alone. With this arrangement the vehicle containing the mold and related parts, as shown at 90, may be started from an elevated position at 9| to which it may be brought by any suitable means such as an elevator or an inclined power-operated way, as shown diagrammatically at 92. The vehicle then may be started on its course throughout the various dips, rises,

and turns until it reaches its low point. Preferably the parts are so arranged that by the time it reaches the low point, the casting has become solidified so that the desired centrifugal forces have had their desired efiect on their material. Various arrangements may be provided in such a system for permitting the flow of molten material from the ladle into the mold at the desired point of travel as, for example, by the use of track trips or other devices well known in the art and not necessary to set forth herein.

Although the ladle has been shown on several figures of the drawing, this invention may be used without the ladle, for instance by filling the mold first with the molten material, and thereafter starting the travel of the vehicle, a riser for this purpose instead of the ladle being shown, for example, at on Figure 11.

From the foregoing description of embodiments of this invention it should be evident to those skilled in the art that various further changes and modifications might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A centrifugal casting system which comprises a self-propelled wheeled vehicle, a mold mounted on the vehicle, a crucible on the vehicle connected to the mold, a valve controlling the connection between the crucible and mold, and a path along which the vehicle travels, at least a portion of the path being curved about a central point and inclined downwardly toward the central point in a direction transverse to the path.

2. A centrifugal casting system which comprises a self-propelled wheeled vehicle, a mold mounted on the vehicle, and. a path along which the vehicle travels, the path having flat entrance and exit portions at its ends and an intermediate portion curved about a central point, the surface of the curved portion of the path inclining downwardly toward the central point in a. direction transverse to the path.

GEORGE A. RUBISSOW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 964,371 Bary July 12, 1910 1,789,860 Bennington Jan. 20, 1931 1,817,012 Merle Aug. 4, 1931 1,839,106 Loth Dec. 29, 1931 1,949,021 Leuser Feb. 27, 1934 2,140,204 Griflin Dec. 13, 1938 2,184,257 Nakagawa Dec. 19, 1939 2,229,492 Christensen et al. Jan. 21, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 358,363 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1931 HUUPH 

